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Friday, 29 April 2016

Rape. Just typing that word makes my gut tie up in knots. And that’s part of the problem.

Because it’s so uncomfortable, we don’t want to talk about it. So it gets buried at the bottom the newsfeed or forgotten altogether, like the backlog of untested rape kits.

Last March, I released Quiet Angel in which the heroine is a survivor of childhood sexual assault. A few weeks later, my husband became gravely ill, and we spent the rest of the year (5 long hospital stays and 4 long surgeries) fighting to regain his health. As I sat in the hospital chair next to his bed night after night, I got messages from women about how my book touched them. Some shared their reasons, and others didn’t.

I came to learn that April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. How could I not know that? just released a book on the very topic. Yet I didn’t see one post about it on any of my social media accounts.

Early this year, I began writing Layers of Her with the intent to spread awareness and donate of April's profits to charity. I was nervous when I started, and I still am. I mean, how much the profits be? Will readers assume I’m a survivor or I know one? Will I do the topic justice?

Why am I doing this? It’s a whole lot easier to stay silent. But that’s the whole problem, isn’t I work in a field, in the genre of fiction, that is mostly comprised of women, where sexual assault is one of the most common tropes. And with each passing page, we pull for our broken heroes and heroines to heal, find love, forge a new path. That's all we want for them. We need to do same for the real life heroes and heroines, those brave souls who fight the real fight every single day. So join me this April in making some noise to raise awareness, not only for the survivors but for those who love them.

People always say it’s what’s on the inside that matters. If that’s the case, I’m screwed. On the outside, everything looks put together — blonde hair, blue eyes, tall and lean. By society’s standards, I’d be considered attractive. But f*ck society, I know what I am. I know what I’m made of. The recessive genes that reared their heads and created a decent looking package on the outside don’t make me who I am. What about all the evil lurking inside? What about all the other parts of me that aren’t so easy to see? Some of the most beautiful animals are also the deadliest. Take the polar bear, for example. Cute and cuddly on the outside, but it’s really a predator that will bite your f*cking head off. That’s a dangerous combination.

And that’s exactly like me, exactly who I am. Bad — and once you go bad, you can never go back.

WARNING: This book deals with the harsh reality of rape that could be upsetting for some readers.

“What made you come for me?” she asks. I tell her my theory about men making decisions based on one of three body parts — head, heart, dick. “So which led you to my house tonight?” she asks.

“Let’s just say two out of three ain’t bad.”

Her giggle fills up the room. “Stone?”

“Hmm?”

“Don’t let me forget.”

“Forget what?”

“How good I feel right now,” she says.

I know exactly what she’s feeling. She doesn’t think she deserves to be happy. It’s a constant waiting on the other shoe to drop so you can prove to yourself that all the bad shit you fill your head with is true. That you’re bad, and that’s why bad things happen around you, or to those you love. Dealt with that myself when Tate got her diagnosis. Who am I kidding? I still fight those demons, knowing she’s suffering because of my mistakes. Self-blame is a bitch. Self-hatred is even worse. Guess I’ll just have to teach Campbell to love herself as much as I love her.

Yeah, yeah, it’s fast. But how long does it really take to fall in love with someone? A minute? An hour? A day? A year? For me, it took exactly one kiss. The moment her lips touched mine in that hospital room, I was gone.

Besides, what do you really have to know about a person to love them? Not a damn thing other than how they make you feel when you close your eyes at the end of the day with them wrapped in your arms.

Prescott Lane is the author of First Position, Perfectly Broken, and her new release, Quiet Angel. She is originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, and graduated from Centenary College with a degree in sociology. She went on to receive her MSW from Tulane University, after which she worked with developmentally delayed and disabled children. She married her college sweetheart, and they currently live in New Orleans with their two children and two crazy dogs. Prescott started writing at the age of five, and sold her first story about a talking turtle to her father for a quarter. She later turned to writing romance novels because there aren't enough happily ever afters in real life.

Source: Kindle (Wanted to support the cause as all April proceeds go to charity)

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Standalone

My Layers of Her Review . . .

There is just something sweet about Prescott Lane's heartfelt stories. In Layers of Her, we get Stone Delhomme an ex-MMA fighter now gym owner and father after living the MMA lifestyle of easy woman. Then there is Campbell Mae a meek but strong woman who feels like she's too broken but in reality she's just bent.

~ The layers of her build a damn good woman.~

There is something about Campbell that intrigues Stone but he has too much on the line with his daughter. Campbell is in a dark place but trying to fight it. She's tries to fight the attraction to Stone but can't.

Even though Stone should be focusing on everything but Campbell, he can't help it. Once they give in to each other their relationship escalates quickly. Things start rocky between these two because Campbell has quite the past, but Stone is determined to make her see the light.

"I know it's scary, but stop fighting the pain. That's the only way to win. Pain gets a bad rap, but it has a purpose. It lets you know when something is wrong. . . "

Even though things escalated fast it was written in away that it didn't feel unbelievable. I loved the idea of the book so much more than the actual story though. Sadly that could have just been my current mood or it was the fact that I was so frustrated with Campbell and the fact that she's never even thought about therapy and she works in the medical profession. I know in reality a lot of people who work in that realm often don't seek help, as they feel they don't need it but reading it from the outside in, I just wanted to drag her to the nearest psychologist so she would stop assuming and finally stop with her double standard thought processing.

Even though Campbell's decisions at times drove me crazy I did really like her, Stone and Tate together. However, lets talk about Jade, Stone's sister. I got her tough on the outside persona but they way she came across did NOT win me over. Thankfully she was a smaller part of this book. Sure there were some characters that didn't win me over but the actual story was a good one and a topic that is hard to talk about, but should be so more people like Campbell have better outlets on how to deal with the harsh reality.

As always Prescott has delivered another heartfelt story that deserves to be read, and especially buy it before April is over because proceeds go to charity.

Voted Most Likely to Succeed, Melanie
Bartlett ended up anything but. The down-on-her-luck single mom wants a
complete do-over—is that too much to ask? With her family long gone from River
Bend, strong, independent Mel is as surprised as anyone to end up in the quaint
small town she once called home. But with her friends, Jo and Zoe, by her side,
and a comfortable room at Miss Gina’s quirky bed-and-breakfast, she just might
have turned the corner on a new life.

Wyatt Gibson never liked the big
city. River Bend suits the ruggedly handsome builder just fine. Wyatt knows
he’s home, even if that means being charmed by the appearance of Melanie and
her spunky, adorable daughter. Is Wyatt’s calm devotion—even amid a coming
storm—enough to convince Mel she may have found a home to call her own, a
family that never leaves, and a true love to last a lifetime?

Praise
for Doing It Over

“The romance between
fiercely independent Melanie and charming Wyatt heats up even as outsiders
threaten to derail their newfound happiness. This novel will hook readers with
its warm, inviting characters and the promise for similar future installments.” –Publishers Weekly

“This brand-new trilogy, Most Likely
To, based on yearbook superlatives, kicks off with a novel that will encourage
you to root for the incredibly likable Melanie. Her friends are hilarious and
readers will swoon over Wyatt, who is charming and strong. Even Melanie’s
daughter, Hope, is a hoot! This romance is jam-packed with animated characters,
and Bybee displays her creative writing talent wonderfully.” –RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars

New York Times & USA Today bestselling author Catherine
Bybee was raised in Washington State, but after graduating high school, she
moved to Southern California in hopes of becoming a movie star. After growing
bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered
nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes
full-time and has penned the Weekday Brides Series and the Not Quite Series.
Bybee lives with her two teenage sons in Southern California.

I simply adore Catherine Bybee. Which made reading this book such a pleasant experience for me. Every single book I have read of Catherine's has left me feeling the love and with a good after taste. Her books are ones that don't blend into the plethora of all the other books within the same genre. Her stories always have a feel good story with an air of suspense and intrigue that make us hang on waiting to find out what is going to happen and trying to find out who done it.

Even though this book is a contemporary romantic suspense it had a completely different feel then her Weekday Bride series or the Not Quite series. Doing it Over starts with three high school best friends making a pact to come back at their ten year reunion no matter where they're at in life. Melanie was voted most likely to succeed, where Jo was voted the most to rebel while Zoe was voted the most likely to stay in River Bend.

Now ten years later and Jo is the town sheriff and Zoe is famous and living large in Texas while Mel is struggling trying to make a home for her and her daughter. On Mel's way back to River Bend for the reunion she finds herself stranded at the side of the road with her car dying. Even though one stranger stops to help, you can never be to sure so she's a bit leary when she first meets Wyatt.

Once Mel comes back she realizes that this is where she should be to raise her daughter. With a small community who acts more like family then her own real family. Even though the three best friends had moved on in life it didn't deter their friendship which is just as strong today as it was 10 years ago.

Wyatt is newish to town and normally he hooks up with passer throughs however something about Mel and her daughter pulls at him making him want more than his usual. I loved Wyatt. He was a great mix of rugged, manly, loyal, sweet and loving. The relationship between Mel and Wyatt escalated at a nice pace without any useless angst between them. Even when there could have been some angst instead they maturely dealt with things and moved on. Instead of angst they had to deal with the issue of Mel's ex making nasty waves to Mel's new future as well as whole lot of nasty shenanigans happening around this small town.

The story was told in different POV's from many different characters but it never felt confusing instead it helped progress the story and the series. I can not wait for Staying for Good which is book two in the series. It doesn't say on Goodreads yet but my fingers are crossed that it is Luke and Zoe's story.

From the moment I picked up the book I couldn't put it down. I was immediately enveloped with the story and Mel, Hope and Wyatt. All the characters of this town were charming and amazing and I can't wait to read more about them. Great suspense filled loving story.

Ratings

- Blah! - Meh! - Liked It! - Gah! Really Liked It! - AHHH! Loved It!

Blog Posting Update

I wish I had time to blog only, but real life dictates me to have a full time career. As of late this non-blogger life is becoming too busy decreasing my time to read and review. To try and accommodate all facets of my life I have a new posting regimen.

On my blog I will post 4 and up only. With the occasional worthy mention below that rating. If part of a blog tour I will post 3 and up. If you want to find out ALL my ratings please go to my Goodreads page here with all my ratings. If the review is for an author or publisher and the rating is below a 4 I'll still give feedback directly to the author or publisher.

Thanks for understanding the change and for supporting my blog by visiting on a regular basis.